burden

¹

[bur-dn]

noun

1. that which is carried; load.

   a horse's burden of rider and pack.

2. that which is borne with difficulty; obligation; onus.

   the burden of leadership.

   Synonyms: impediment, encumbrance, weight

3. Nautical.

   1. the weight of a ship's cargo.

   2. the carrying capacity of a ship.

4. Mining.,  overburden.

5. Metallurgy.,  the minerals charged into a blast furnace or steelmaking furnace.

6. Accounting.,  overhead.

verb (used with object)

1. to load heavily.

2. to load oppressively; trouble.

   Synonyms: vex, grieve, plague, perturb, afflict, try, saddle, weigh down

burden

²

[bur-dn]

noun

1. the main point, message, or idea.

   Synonyms: essence, nucleus, crux, core, substance, gist

2. Music.,  the refrain or recurring chorus of a song.

burden

¹

/ ˈbɜːdən /

noun

1. something that is carried; load

2. something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear

   the burden of responsibility

3. nautical

   1. the cargo capacity of a ship

   2. the weight of a ship's cargo

verb

1. (sometimes foll by up) to put or impose a burden on; load

2. to weigh down; oppress

   the old woman was burdened with cares

burden

²

/ ˈbɜːdən /

noun

1. a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain

2. the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc

3. another word for bourdon

Other Word Forms

• burdener noun
• burdenless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burden¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, birthen, birden, Old English byrthen; akin to German Bürde, Gothic baurthei; bear ¹

Origin of burden²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bordoun, burdoun “drone, bass,” from Old French bourdon “droning sound, instrument making such a sound”

Word History and Origins

Origin of burden¹

Old English byrthen ; related to beran to _bear ¹ , Old Frisian berthene burden, Old High German burdin

Origin of burden²

C16: from Old French bourdon bass horn, droning sound, of imitative origin

Synonym Study

See load.

Example Sentences

The main characters’ bond over loss coils around a secret that burdens Dennis, a gay man fascinated with twinship, the more time they spend together.

From Los Angeles Times

Elected leaders in the city of 100,000 have said they’ve borne a disproportionate burden of addressing homelessness in the region.

From Los Angeles Times

The city should also dedicate resources to enforcing the temperature-threshold rules and to helping tenants afford their utility bills to lessen the burden, she added.

From Los Angeles Times

Essayli stressed that the intention is for the utility company itself and “not the ratepayers” to bear the burden of the costs.

From Los Angeles Times

Foster said his quarterback tried to shoulder the burden for the loss, showing his determination to do better this week.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxiety 
• concern 
• difficulty 
• duty 
• hardship 
• load 
• onus 
• responsibility 
• strain 
• task 
• tax 
• trouble 
• worry